Little battery troubleshooting help please

[Tdubb]

I went to start up my bike a little while ago and all the lights came on but all that occurred was "click". I also noticed that the headlight goes out or real dim when I hit start - don't remember if that's normal. I checked the voltage and got 12.6v, tried to start and it, "click"' checked voltage and it was lower at 12.4v. Then a few minutes later I pulled the battery and I got 13.5v unconnected.

I'm thinking to go and have it load tested, but can't do that until tomorrow. The harley dealer does a thorough test that takes about 3 hours or so. However I could just buy a battery tonight, but not sure that battery is shot - sure seems like it though.

 

[KaptinAmerika]

Sounds like a bad cell in the battery

 

[Tdubb]

Sounds like a bad cell in the battery

Thanks Curtis! That was my thinking, just wanted second opinion. Again thanks, you've always been a great help to me. :up:

 

[KaptinAmerika]

My Lithium Ion sits at around 13.5 all the time and only drops to 12.9 when I hit the start button.

 

[BadDawg Bill]

Sounds like a bad cell in the battery

1+ I change my battery every year. Buy a cheap Walmart one and you can take it back if it fails. Curtis has it right a bad cell...

 

[Nukeranger]

Sounds like a bad cell in the battery

Yep, absolutely. My headlight never dims which tells me don't waist your time on a load test. Then again, it is easy enough and most places can test your battery when you purchase another including WalMart.

 

[Tdubb]

Well it wasn't a battery. Harley tested it and it checked okay. The Harley tech said it sounded like a loose ground - maybe on the starter. I hooked everything back up. I checked everything and all was tight. Bike fired right up. This happened once last year, but then I chalked it up that maybe I had not noticed a loose battery terminal. This time I know all was tight. Aggravating...

 

[KaptinAmerika]

And so goes the continuing Saga of electrical gremlins.......:bang:

 

[Tdubb]

Yep, absolutely. My headlight never dims which tells me don't waist your time on a load test. Then again, it is easy enough and most places can test your battery when you purchase another including WalMart.

FYI - after some research the service manual states that during starting the EHC turns off the headlight. So it's normal for my 2008 at least.